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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/21/2019 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 073, 2019, DESIGNATAgenda Item 9 Item # 9 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY May 21, 2019 City Council STAFF Karen McWilliams, Historic Preservation Planner Brad Yatabe, Legal SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 073, 2019, Designating the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II, 221-229 West Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, Colorado, as a Fort Collins Landmark Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This item is a quasi-judicial matter and if considered on the discussion agenda, it will be considered in accordance with the procedures described in Section 1(e) of the Council’s Rules of Meeting Procedures adopted in Resolution 2018-034. The purpose of this item is to consider the request for landmark designation of the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II, 221-229 West Mulberry Street, as rare examples of twin American Foursquare duplex architecture. This is a voluntary designation at the property owner’s request. The Landmark Preservation Commission unanimously recommends approving this landmark designation. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II are significant to Fort Collins for their architecture and demonstrate a high level of all seven aspects of integrity. The two buildings are rare examples of twin duplexes, each having been constructed as a two-story side-by-side duplex with a mirrored design to accommodate the duplex form. The Alfred Parker Duplexes are also notable for their excellent representation of the American Foursquare architectural style, as well as their outstanding workmanship, strength of design, and clear association with each other. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS Recognition of these properties as a Fort Collins Landmark enables its owners to qualify for financial incentive programs available only for designated properties. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION At its April 17, 2019, regular hearing, the Landmark Preservation Commission unanimously (8-0, Murray absent) adopted a resolution recommending adoption of an ordinance by Council for landmark designation. Agenda Item 9 Item # 9 Page 2 PUBLIC OUTREACH The Landmark Preservation Commission held a public hearing on this item at its April 17, 2019, meeting. ATTACHMENTS 1. Location Map (PDF) 2. Landmark Preservation Commission Resolution No. 3, 2019 (PDF) 3. Staff Report to Landmark Preservation Commission, April 17, 2019 (PDF) 4. Photos (PDF) 1 inch = 97 feet 221-223 Landmark and 227-Designation 229 W Mulberry © 227-DuplexMulberry 229 1 W W2 MULBERRY ST 221-DuplexMulberry 223 W S HOWES ST ATTACHMENT 1 ATTACHMENT 2 Agenda Item 3 Item 3, Page 1 STAFF REPORT April 17, 2019 Landmark Preservation Commission PROJECT NAME ALFRED PARKER DUPLEX I, 227-229 WEST MULBERRY STREET AND ALFRED PARKER DUPLEX II, 221- 223 WEST MULBERRY STREET, FORT COLLINS - APPLICATION FOR FORT COLLINS LANDMARK DESIGNATION STAFF Reyana Jones, Historic Preservation Specialist Karen McWilliams, Historic Preservation Manager PROJECT INFORMATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This item is to consider the request for a recommendation to City Council regarding landmark designation for the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II. APPLICANT: 223 W Mulberry LLC; 227 W MULBERRY LLC; 229 W MULBERRY LLC RECOMMENDATION: Approval of a Motion to Council Recommending Landmark Designation COMMISSION’S ROLE AND ACTION: One of the Commission’s responsibilities is to provide a recommendation to City Council on applications for the designation of a property as a Fort Collins Landmark. Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code provides the standards and process for designation. At the hearing, the Commission shall determine whether the following two (2) criteria are satisfied: (1) the proposed resource is eligible for designation; and (2) the requested designation will advance the policies and the purposes in a manner and extent sufficient to justify the requested designation. Following its review, and once the Commission feels it has the information it needs, the Commission should adopt a motion providing its recommendation on the property’s Landmark eligibility to City Council. SUMMARY STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE and EXTERIOR INTEGRITY Staff has determined that the two Alfred Parker Duplexes, located at 221-223 West Mulberry Street (Duplex II) and 227-229 West Mulberry Street (Duplex I), are eligible for Fort Collins Landmark designation, having significance under Standard C: Architecture and demonstrating all seven aspects of integrity. The Alfred Parker Duplexes are rare examples of American Foursquare duplexes. The buildings, each built as a two-story side-by-side duplex, exhibit the American Foursquare’s characteristic, mirrored to accommodate the duplex form. Both duplexes retain integrity of all seven aspects to convey their significance, and are notable for their excellent workmanship, strength of design, and clear association with each other. SUMMARY OF ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORY Popular during the end of the nineteenth century and the first several decades of the twentieth century, the American Foursquare design was a reaction against Victorian architectural styles. Victorian architecture tended to be highly ATTACHMENT 3 Agenda Item 3 Item 3, Page 2 decorated, featured classical elements, and emphasized privacy. Foursquare dwellings tended to be quietly decorated, featured geometric or abstract elements, and shifted emphasis to private space through the incorporation of large porches. The compact mass accommodated narrow suburban lots and lent itself to versatility. The Alfred Parker Duplexes embody this building type through their geometric rather than classical columns, narrow, vertical paned windows, prominent twin front and rear porches, and their compact two-story construction. The adaptation of this building type to a multi-family, duplex form exemplifies the American Foursquare’s suitability to suburban areas and versatility. Although often attributed to Fort Collins architect Montezuma Fuller, no primary source evidence has been found to verify this assertion. According to newspaper real estate records, Alfred Parker bought the land where the duplexes now stand in the spring of 1907, with plans to construct a “fine modern, two-story apartment house on the vacant corner.” Work began on the first duplex, at 227-229 West Mulberry in late June 1907. The second duplex building, at 221-223 West Mulberry, was constructed in 1908. Throughout their history, the owners of these units included a number of notable Fort Collins families, including Helen Gilpin-Brown, widow of pioneer Livermore rancher Charles Gilpin-Brown; Mrs. Georgia Aylesworth, wife of former Colorado Agricultural College president Barton Orville Aylesworth; and Alvin Steinel, author of the 1926 publication History of Agriculture in Colorado. STAFF EVALUATION OF REVIEW CRITERIA Standards of Significance: Significance is the importance of a site, structure, object or district to the history, architecture, archeology, engineering or culture of our community, State or Nation. For designation as Fort Collins Landmarks or Fort Collins Landmark Districts properties must meet one (1) or more of the following standards: MET ? Standard A: Events The resource is associated with events that have made a recognizable contribution to the broad patterns of the history of the community, State or Nation. A resource can be associated with either or both of two (2) types of events: 1. A specific event marking an important moment in Fort Collins prehistory or history; and/or 2. A pattern of events or a historic trend that made a recognizable contribution to the development of the community, State or Nation. N/A Standard B: Persons/ Groups The resource is associated with the lives of persons or groups of persons recognizable in the history of the community, State or Nation whose specific contributions to that history can be identified and documented. N/A Agenda Item 3 Item 3, Page 3 Standard C: Design/ Construction The resource embodies the identifiable characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; represents the work of a craftsman or architect whose work is distinguishable from others by its characteristic style and quality; possesses high artistic values or design concepts; or is part of a recognizable and distinguishable group of resources. The resource may be significant not only for the way it was originally constructed or crafted, but also for the way it was adapted at a later period, or for the way it illustrates changing tastes, attitudes, and/or uses over time. The Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II are significant under Standard C, Architecture, as rare examples of American Foursquare duplexes. These properties retain the Foursquare’s characteristic hipped roof, central hipped dormer, prominent porch, and large windows, mirrored to accommodate the duplex form. Yes Standard D: Information potential The resource has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. N/A Standards of Integrity Integrity is the ability of a site, structure, object or district to be able to convey its significance. The integrity of a resource is based on the degree to which it retains all or some of seven (7) aspects or qualities established by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service: location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. All seven qualities do not need to be present for a site, structure, object or district to be eligible as long as the overall sense of past time and place is evident. MET ? Standard A: Location Location is the place where the resource was constructed or the place where the historic or prehistoric event occurred. The Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II remain at their original locations. YES Standard B: Design Design is the combination of elements that create the form, plan space, structure and style of a resource. These buildings are excellent examples of a duplex variant of the American Foursquare design. The design features a hipped roof, central hipped dormer, twin front and rear porches, two-story bays, and large windows. The buildings retain their overall integrity of design to a notably high degree. Minor changes include concrete stairs and porch decks on both duplexes. On Duplex I (227-229 W. Mulberry), utility conduit runs down the façade; the mud porch fenestration has been altered; and a section of the porch rail on the west front porch has been removed, with concrete step providing access to a small concrete side patio enclosed in black metal fencing. YES Agenda Item 3 Item 3, Page 4 Standard C: Setting Setting is the physical environment of a resource. Setting refers to the character of the place; it involves how, not just where, the resource is situated and its relationship to the surrounding features and open space. While the setting of these duplexes has changed somewhat since their construction, the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II retain overall integrity of setting. On the properties themselves, two original single bay garages, constructed in 1927, were demolished. The surrounding area was residential in the early twentieth century. Most of these historic one- and two-story buildings still remain, helping to maintain the area’s residential character. However, the area is transitioning to commercial and multi-family. The buildings across Mulberry Street are commercial, and to the north-west is a tall, multi-level apartment complex. YES Standard D: Materials Materials are the physical elements that form a resource. Although some materials have been replaced on both buildings, the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II retain a high degree of integrity of materials. Duplex I (227-229 W. Mulberry) retains most of its original material, including most windows and storms. These include leaded glass windows, such as an oculus window and the multi-light dormer window. Duplex I’s front porch materials are original, but the decorative wood rail on the west side of the west porch has been removed. The fenestration and some of the material on the rear elevation mud porches have been altered. Duplex II (221-223 W. Mulberry) similarly has a high degree of integrity of materials. All of the decorative wood railings on the two front porches visible in the 1968 tax assessor photo, remain. Although Duplex II has lost some of its leaded glass, it retains leaded glass in its oculus window and in its multi-light dormer window. Some of the sash windows and storms have been replaced within the original openings. YES Standard E: Workmanship Workmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people during any given period in history or prehistory. It is the evidence of artisans' labor and skill in constructing or altering a building, structure or site. These two properties feature excellent integrity of workmanship. This is evident in the brick details around many windows, including brick window toppers with raised center bricks that create depth, as well as brick voussoirs surrounding the oculus windows. There are several examples of leaded glass as well, including the many narrow-panes in the multi-light window in each dormer and another leaded glass pattern resembling a flower on the outside oculus windows. The roofs have exposed rafter ends on the main portions of the buildings as well as on the front porches. The starburst appearance of the wooden porch balustrade gives the brick porches further interest. YES Agenda Item 3 Item 3, Page 5 Standard F: Feeling Feeling is a resource’s expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period or time. It results from the presence of physical features that, taken together, convey the resource's historic or prehistoric character. Because of their strong retention of design these properties continue to feel like upper-middle class residences from the early twentieth century. Their foursquare building type and decorative brickwork convey this historic character; these qualities are immediately apparent to the viewer. Directly adjacent to each other and mirroring one another, these duplexes further reflect the context of their construction. YES Standard G: Association Association is the direct link between an important event or person and a historic or prehistoric resource. A resource retains association if it is the place where the event or activity occurred and is sufficiently intact to convey that relationship to an observer. Like feeling, association requires the presence of physical features that convey a property's historic character. Because of their integrity of workmanship and design, these properties retain their association with their early twentieth century upper-class residents as well as their original owner, Alfred Parker, a wealthy Fort Collins rancher known for his prize-winning stock of horses and skilled horsemanship. YES Policy (a) It is hereby declared as a matter of public policy that the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of sites, structures, objects and districts of historical, architectural, archeological, or geographic significance, located within the City, are a public necessity and are required in the interest of the prosperity, civic pride and general welfare of the people. The designation of the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II promote the policies adopted by Council specifically by protecting, enhancing and perpetuating significant resources in the City through the protection, recognition and incentives offered landmarked resources. YES Policy (b) It is the opinion of the City Council that the economic, cultural and aesthetic standing of this City cannot be maintained or enhanced by disregarding the historical, architectural, archeological, and geographical heritage of the City and by ignoring the destruction or defacement of such cultural assets. Designation of the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II will promote the City’s economic standing directly, through property, use and sales taxes and revenue; and indirectly through the promotion of heritage tourism. The City’s cultural standing is promoted by residents and visitors better understanding our history and the people who shaped it. The City’s aesthetics are promoted through the protection and recognition of an interesting and notable example of American Foursquare architecture, rendered as twin mirrored duplexes. YES Agenda Item 3 Item 3, Page 6 Purpose (a): Survey, identify, designated, preserve, protect, enhance and perpetuate those sites, structures, objects and districts which reflect important elements of the city’s cultural, artistic, social, political, architectural, archeological, or other heritage; Designation of the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II meets Purpose (a) by designating, preserving, protecting, enhancing and perpetuating these important resources. YES Purpose (b): Foster civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past; This request meets Purpose (b) by fostering civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past. YES Purpose (c): Stabilize or improve aesthetic and economic vitality and values of such sites, structures, objects and districts; This request meets Purpose (c) by improving aesthetic and economic vitality and values. YES Purpose (d): Protect and enhance the City's attraction to tourists and visitors; This request meets Purpose (d) by protecting and enhancing the City's attraction to tourists and visitors. YES Purpose (e): Promote the use of important historical, archeological, or architectural sites, structures, objects and districts for the education, stimulation and welfare of the people of the City; This request meets Purpose (e) by promoting the use of these important architectural resources for the education, stimulation and welfare of the people of the City. YES Purpose (f): Promote good urban design; This request meets Purpose (f) by promoting good urban design through the retention of neighborhood character and for the resources’ unusual and interesting architecture and design. YES Purpose (g): Promote and encourage continued private ownership and utilization of such sites, structures, objects or districts now so owned and used, to the extent that the objectives listed above can be attained under such a policy; This meets Purpose (g) by continuing the private ownership and utilization of these resources. YES Agenda Item 3 Item 3, Page 7 Purpose (h): Promote economic, social and environmental sustainability through the ongoing survey and inventory, use, maintenance, and rehabilitation of existing buildings. This meets Purpose (h) by promoting economic sustainability through the taxes and revenue generated and the use of financial incentive programs; environmental sustainability through the continued use of the resource, preserving embodied energy and existing materials, and using the buildings’ inherently energy efficient qualities; and social sustainability through peoples’ ability to tangibly experience history and architecture and through the preservation of a transitional residential neighborhood feel. YES FINDINGS OF FACT AND RECOMMENDATION FINDINGS OF FACT: In evaluating the request for a recommendation to City Council regarding landmark designation for the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II, staff makes the following findings of fact: 1. That all owners of the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II have consented in writing to this request for Fort Collins Landmark designation of the properties; 2. That the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II have significance to Fort Collins under Criterion C, Architecture, as supported by the analysis provided in this staff report; 3. That Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II have integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association to convey its significance as supported by the analysis provided in this staff report; 4. That the designation will advance the policies and purposes stated in the code in a manner and extent sufficient to justify the requested designation, as supported by the analysis provided in this staff report. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Commission adopt a motion to Council recommending the landmark designation of the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II. SAMPLE MOTIONS SAMPLE MOTION FOR APPROVAL: I move that the Landmark Preservation Commission recommend that City Council adopt an ordinance to designate the Alfred Parker Duplex I, 227-229 West Mulberry Street, and the Alfred Parker Duplex II, 221-223 West Mulberry Street, as Fort Collins Landmarks, finding that these resources are eligible for their significance to Fort Collins under Standard C, Architecture, as rare examples of American Foursquare duplexes, and that they clearly convey this significance through their high degree of all seven aspects of integrity; and finding also that the designation of these properties will promote the policies and purposes of the City as specified in Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code. SAMPLE MOTION FOR DENIAL: I move that the Landmark Preservation Commission recommend that City Council does not adopt an ordinance to designate the Alfred Parker Duplexes I, 227-229 West Mulberry Street, and the Alfred Parker Duplex II, 221-223 West Mulberry Street, as Fort Collins Landmarks, finding that XXXXX. ATTACHMENTS 1. Landmark Designation Application 2. Staff Presentation 3. Location Map 1 Application for Fort Collins Landmark Designation – Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II Yani Jones, Historic Preservation Intern Landmark Preservation Commission 4.17.2019 ATTACHMENT 4 Location and Context 2 221-229 W. Mulberry St.- Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II Duplex II, Constructed 1908, Photo 1948 Duplex II, Photo 1968 Duplex I, Constructed 1907, Photo 1948 Duplex I, Photo 1968 Sanborn Map 1909 (first appearance) East/West Elevation 3 221-229 W. Mulberry St.- Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II Duplex I East Elevation Duplex II West Elevation Façade, North Elevation 4 221-229 W. Mulberry St.- Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II Duplex I (West Porch) Duplex I (East Porch) South Elevation 5 221-229 W. Mulberry St.- Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II Duplex I Duplex II Façade, North Elevation 6 221-229 W. Mulberry St.- Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II Duplex I Duplex II Façade, North Elevation 7 221-229 W. Mulberry St.- Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II Duplex I Duplex II West/East Elevation 8 221-229 W. Mulberry St.- Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II Duplex I West Elevation Duplex II East Elevation Additional Photos- Patio (Duplex I) 9 221-229 W. Mulberry St.- Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II Area Around Patio Porch Access to Patio Patio Stair to Porch (Wood Railing Removed) -1- ORDINANCE NO. 073, 2019 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS DESIGNATING THE ALFRED PARKER DUPLEXES I AND II, 221-229 WEST MULBERRY STREET, FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, AS A FORT COLLINS LANDMARK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 14 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS WHEREAS, pursuant to City Code Section 14-1, the City Council has established a public policy encouraging the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of historic landmarks within the City; and WHEREAS, by resolution adopted on April 17, 2019, the Landmark Preservation Commission (the “Commission”) determined that the Alfred Parker Duplexes I and II at 221- 229 West Mulberry Street in Fort Collins, as more specifically described in the legal description below (the “Property”), are eligible for landmark designation pursuant to City Code Chapter 14, Article II, for the buildings’ high degree of integrity, and for their significance to Fort Collins under City Code Section 14-22(a)(3), Design/Construction, for the Property’s representation as a rare example of twin American Foursquare style duplexes; and WHEREAS, the Commission further determined that designation of the Property will advance the policies and purposes set forth in City Code Sections 14-1 and 14-2 in a manner and extent sufficient to justify designation; and WHEREAS, the Commission recommends that the City Council designate the Property as a Fort Collins landmark; and WHEREAS, the owners of the Property have consented to such landmark designation and desire to protect the Property; and WHEREAS, such landmark designation will preserve the Property’s significance to the community; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the recommendation of the Commission and desires to follow such recommendation and designate the Property as a landmark; and WHEREAS, designation of the Property as a landmark is necessary for the prosperity, civic pride, and welfare of the public. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That the Property located in the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado, described as follows, to wit: -2- A PORTION OF LOTS 9 AND 10, BLOCK 105, HARRISON’S ADDITION TO THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A POINT 72.5 FEET EAST OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 9, IN SAID BLOCK 105, THENCE EAST 77.5 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 60 FEET; THENCE WEST 77.5 FEET; THENCE NORTH 60 FEET; TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, ALSO KNOWN BY STREET AND NUMBERS AS 221-223 WEST MULBERRY STREET; AND THAT PORTION OF LOTS 9 AND 10, BLOCK 105, HARRISON’S ADDITION TO THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A POINT 36 FEET EAST OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 9, THENCE SOUTH 60 FEET; THENCE EAST 36.5 FEET; THENCE NORTH 60 FEET; THENCE WEST 36.5 FEET; TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, ALSO KNOWN BY STREET AND NUMBER AS 227 WEST MULBERRY STREET; AND THAT PORTION OF LOTS 9 AND 10, BLOCK 105, HARRISON’S ADDITION TO THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: THE WEST 36 FEET OF LOT 9 AND THE WEST 36 FEET OF THE NORTH 10 FEET OF LOT 10, BLOCK 105, ALSO KNOWN BY STREET AND NUMBER AS 229 WEST MULBERRY STREET, CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COUNTY OF LARIMER, STATE OF COLORADO be designated as a Fort Collins Landmark in accordance with City Code Chapter 14. Section 3. That alterations, additions and other changes to the buildings and structures located upon the Property will be reviewed for compliance with City Code Chapter 14, Article IV, as currently enacted or hereafter amended. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 21st day of May, A.D. 2019, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of June, A.D. 2019. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ Chief Deputy City Clerk -3- Passed and adopted on final reading on the 4th day of June, A.D. 2019. __________________________________ Mayor Pro Tem ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk